Pilates Half Day Retreat

Relax, destress and reinvigorate yourself with a Pilates Half Day Retreat in the heart of the Inner West. Paola and Annie, with many years of teaching, masterfully weave together movement to foster your vitality leaving you feeling not only rested but also energised.

The day includes a Roll & Release, Pilates mat class, and a Slings inspired workshop that will benefit the whole body. The experience culminates with restorative postures and a relaxation all to the soothing sounds of the cello, played by Rachel.

In our experience, calming the nervous system down first before energising movement can have great benefit to get your natural energy back. While 3.5 hours of movement seems extensive, the morning is carefully choreographed to restore and re-energise equally.

To cultivate this we explore the following:

• WARM UP/ROLL & RELEASE: Paola’s focus is to unwind with a slow flow myofascial release class to free areas of built up tension in your body that are inhibiting your freedom of movement in everyday life. 
• PILATES: Annie revitalises and reconnects with Pilates mat, working on the fundamentals for alignment, breath and postural connection. 
• WORKSHOP: Paola explores rediscovering the balance of the pelvic and respiratory diaphragms in this Slings Myofascial Training inspired workshop to reawaken the potential within.
• RESTORATIVE POSTURES & RELAXATION: Paola concludes the morning with long-hold restorative postures of 3-5 minutes, eventually leading to a place of deep stillness, while enveloped by the harmonious sounds of the cello, skilfully played by Rachel. The soothing musical backdrop enhances the unwinding process, with scientific studies underscoring the positive impact of music on the nervous system and brain. This harmonious integration contributes to an overall sense of tranquility and well-being, creating a serene conclusion to the morning. 

We invite you to join us. It is an opportunity for you to treat yourself.

What is included:

• All classes
• Equipment
• Snacks

Who we are

Paola Raffinetti, a Pilates instructor (2001 & 2006) and Slings Myofascial Trainer (2020) and Educator, began her first Pilates training in 2001 as at it improved her performance and body awareness as a dancer. It helped her discover new ways of moving she had never had access to before. This revelation about the inter-connectedness of the mind body connection has kept her fascinated ever since. This fascination has increased exponentially with the latest research into the fascial system with Slings Myofascial Training or ‘Slings’, for short, when she began this training in 2017. By incorporating Slings in her Pilates classes, the positive overall dynamic postural affects within herself and clients have been inspiring. This continues to inform her teaching and own self practice for long term gain. Movement ease in every day life is a worthwhile endeavour.

Annie Bell, instructor and studio manager of MG Pilates, began her teacher training with Polestar early in 2013, and completed it in early 2014. Believing that Pilates is for everybody, Annie is keen to share the benefits that mindful movement can bring to those who practice Pilates regularly. She doesn’t look at it as just a form of exercise but a way to help your body gain strength, flexibility and mind/body connectedness. Annie truly believes that Pilates can make everything we do in our lives easier and essentially more enjoyable!

Rachel Pogson, originally from Orange in rural NSW, is a freelance cellist and conductor. She studied ‘cello with Susan Blake at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Anthea Scott-Mitchell at Newcastle Conservatorium. Rachel has played as principal cellist with the Christ Church Camerata, Orange Symphony Orchestra, Newcastle Conservatorium Orchestra, Lake Macquarie Philharmonic and Scots Kirk Band. For many years, Rachel performed as part of alt-rock/folk band ‘Hudson Arc’. Rachel currently conducts numerous string orchestras across Sydney’s inner-west and maintains a wonderful studio of private ‘cello students.